Movie Review: Step Up: All In lacks a plot and great acting, but has spectacular set pieces

FANS of the Step Up movies will be perfectly content with the hard work — and even harder twerkin’ — that has gone into choreographing this latest instalment.

Step Up All In (PG)

Two and a half stars

As we are now five films into the Step Up series, everyone should know exactly where they stand with this hyperkinetic dance movie series.

Therefore true believers in all things Step Up will be perfectly content with all the hard work — and often, even harder twerkin’ — that has gone into choreographing this latest instalment.

Acting is not this movie’s strong suit. Which is perfectly OK. Step Up tragics haven’t been expecting anything resembling a passable performance since Channing Tatum fled the franchise many moons ago.

Love line prevails ... a scene from Step Up: All In. Picture: Universal Pictures

You want a story? That’s not about to happen here either.

The Step Up screenwriters have run out of reasons to stage a make-or-break dance battle. In past episodes, mobs have corkscrewed their collective beings to save houses, win scholarships, and, umm, score the most hits on YouTube.

Sharp moves ... a scene from Step Up: All In. Picture: Universal Pictures

This time, events are tenuously tied to a reality-TV talent show, the end result of which has already been fixed by a corrupt hostess.

A nucleus of honest dancers — led by Sean (Ryan Guzman) from Step Up 4: Revolution and his new girlfriend Andie (Briana Evigan) from Step Up 2 the Streets — know they’re doomed to lose. But they are not going to lose lying down. That just ain’t the Step Up way.

In the zone ... Misha Gabriel, Ryan Guzman and Briana Evigan in a scene from dance film Step Up: All In.

So what is the Step Up way? Killer set-piece routines delivered every ten minutes, each one more spectacular and dazzlingly don’t-dare-try-this-out-on-the-dancefloor than the last.

Originally published as Movie Review: Step Up: All In lacks a plot and great acting, but has spectacular set pieces